Job Summary

The JHS Neighborhood Change Study, based at the Urban Health Collaborative, is recruiting a candidate for a two-calendar year, Postdoctoral Fellowship position, with a target starting date between July 1-September 1, 2023. The project is led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Sharrelle Barber, Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Director of the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements & Population Health Equity at the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health. The JHS Neighborhood Change Study is an NIH-funded research project that seeks to understand the role of changing neighborhood environments in shaping cardiometabolic outcomes among African American adults in the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area. The primary goals of the study are to: 1) compile a multilevel database of time-varying neighborhood contextual data (i.e. physical, social, and healthcare characteristics) using novel methodological approaches that can be linked to the Jackson Heart Study (JHS)— a unique, state-of-the art cohort study of African American adults and 2) examine longitudinal associations of changes in neighborhood contextual factors with HTN and DBM development and management. These neighborhood contextual factors will be derived using the following sources: 1) a commercially available database of business establishments, 2) Google Street View imagery, and 3) survey-based measures of neighborhood social factors. The postdoctoral fellow will work directly with Dr. Barber and will also have the opportunity to develop their own independent research portfolio.

We seek scholars with doctoral degrees, from across all disciplines, but whose research interests focus explicitly on structural racism and social and structural determinants of health. While we encourage applications from all interested scholars, preference will be given to scholars who are from groups that have been historically excluded within the academy.  The fellow will have the opportunity to participate in educational and professional programs at the Dornsife School of Public Health from the different academic centers (including the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements, & Population Health Equity) and departments throughout the school. The candidates will also be supported in developing grant applications for external funding.  

Financial support will be available to advance career goals by attending conferences, conducting pilot studies, publishing, and more.

Essential Functions

• Participation in on-going research projects and independent research
• Development of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication
• Development of grant applications for external funding

Required Qualifications

• PhD or Doctorate in Public Health field or related discipline
• Strong quantitative methodological skills working with large scale cohorts
•  Demonstrated commitment to antiracism scholarship and practice
• Interest in chronic disease epidemiology
• Record of or potential for scholarly productivity including publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific meetings
• Record of community-centered approaches to antiracism scholarship
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills essential

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with existing cohort studies (e.g. MESA, JHS) preferred

Location

• University City

Additional Information

This position is classified as exempt with a salary grade of I. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Please review the Benefits Brochure for some information on our benefits offerings.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Additional Required Documents

• Official doctoral transcript
• Statement of research interests
• Contact information for three references

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.